Is a magnum primer necessary in .308 using W748

[CZ57]

My shooting partner recently bought a Savage 10 series with a 22" barrel and plans to reload for it.

We have been discussing which powder might work best and I have recommended these: W748, TAC, 4064, R15, and Varget. What's your opinion on the best powder. He will mostly shoot 150 or 165 grain Ballistic tips depending on which is more accurate in his gun. Your suggestions are appreciated.

 

[wyohome]

I have used both, some books say a magnum primer some don't. I have seen no practical difference as a hunter. I have used W748 for years with 150gr BT.

 

[hang fire]

Have never used mag primers for .308 with any powder, to include 748.

 

[wyohome]

It can get pretty cold here, and my theory is the more fire the better. I don't know if it makes any difference, but I feel better about my hunting loads using mag primers.

 

[GooseGestapo]

In extreamly cold weather, you may see an improvement in ignition/consistency of velocities with a magnum primer with the spherical powders you listed. Primarily Win748/BLC2, and TAC.

With the extruded powders, IMR4064, Varget, and my favorite- Reloader15 you won't need magnum primers. In fact, on a hot day, a load worked up in cooler season my go over pressure and cause problems.

Many report excellent accuracy with Varget but I've never seen anything special about it. I always used IMR4064 with the .308 until I ran into a Tikka that demanded IMR3031 to shoot decent groups with a 150gr bullet. It "gagged" on Varget and was tepid to Win748.

Do try H4895. My brothers pre-'64 Win.Mod-70 featherweight really "hums" on it. He gets over 2,900fps with a Nosler Partition and ~1" groups at 100yds. He's taken an impressive number of deer, elk, and antelope with it as he lives in LasVegas and hunts Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and Montana.

 

[Ky Larry]

I've had good luck with IMR-4320 in .308 Win. Someone mentioned IMR-3031. I've never tried it in .308 but I'm going to. It has become my "goto" for .22-250 and 55-60gr bullets in .243.

I've always used a mag primer for ball powder and std primers for extruded powder. I tried using std primers in .30-06 loads with AA-2700 and got 1-3 inch vertical stringing. An oldtime I know recommended mag primers and that fixed the problem. YMMV.

 

[splithoof]

I have tried 748 using both primer types, with no real difference. For accurate shooting, try H4895. It gives stellar accuracy from a 700P using Federal 210 primers and sierra 168BTHPM bullets.

 

[zeke]

For the loads tried in 308, 748 got slightly better groups and higher velocitys with Fed 215's as compared to Fed 210s. CCI 34 's gave higher velocity's than Fed 215's. You can reduce the powder charge when using the mag primers.

Am currently using 748 with mag primers in 223 (rem 7 1,2), 307 win and 308. The 30-30 loads useing 748 prefers standard primers.

There are certaintly better powders for some combinations, but 748 meters extremely consistently and serves very well for the number of calibers and action types am reloading for.

 

[longtubeman]

Try using 210M, the M is for match, not mag. you will see your groups get very small,lol, thats a good thing.

 

[BBDartCA]

I've had hang fires with 748 with standard primers and cold weather. Mag primers, no hang fires.

 

[stubbicatt]

Never had any issues with CCI standard primers. Long ago I remember reading that they have glass particles or something which is supposed to assist in lighting spherical powders. CCI seems to work pretty well with everything I have ever used them in.

 

[Shmackey]

I've used only standard primers with 748 in .308, with no issues.

There are better ball powders for .308, though.

 

[CZ57]

Have any of you used Ramshot TAC in the .308? If so, what are your impressions?

 

[Walkalong]

I would probably try mag primers first with 748, just because it is a ball powder, but I haven't shot any in .308, so I don't know.

I have tried TAC in .223, 6PPC, .30-30, and .35 Remington. It shoots very well in .223, great in 6PPC (Except when it's humid), and as well as my lever actions (and me) can shoot in .30-30 and .35 Remington.

IMR 4895 shoots so well in .308, I haven't even tried the RL15 I bought to try in .223 & .308 yet.

TAC is certainly worth a try, and I would try it with the WLP primers I have, which say standard or mag loads, and go from there.

 

[CZ57]

Walkalong, my SP already has the W748 so it will be tried first. He kinda wants to stay with a ball powder for the metering qualities and as you know we don't have extremely harsh winters here. I have seen a good number of recommendations for 4895 now, and that's one I did overlook. I did mention RL15 and 4064 to him. Also, there has been one recommendation for 4320. From what I know about IMR powders, 4064 is usually said to be less finicky than 4320. But as I said, he really wants to use a ball powder and I have already mentioned TAC to him for when the 748 is gone. I never loaded TAC in the 30-30 although I was tempted to. I have used X-Terminator though and it worked very well, with both jacketed bullets and the Laser-Cast gas check bullet.

 

[2DREZQ]

I tried both magnum and regular with 748 in my .308 way back when chrono's were first getting affordable. I noticed a slight increase in velocity with the magnums, but the min/max difference with standards was smaller, so I went with them. Winchester primers.

 

[Patocazador]

The old rule of thumb is to use magnum primers with spherical powders as they are more difficult to ignite in some circumstances.

I always follow that rule.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Don't forget Acc.#2520. I've used it in both the .358wcf and .338MarlinExpress. Neither data called for a "magnum" primer. I tried some CCI magnum primers with the .338ME, and accuracy wasn't as good as the called for Winchester LRP's.
However, the BLR in .358 much prefers H4895 and the Marlin prefers LVR, neither with a magnum primer; though in Wyoming at 10,000'msl in November, it "might" prefer a "Magnum" primer.....

 

[gamestalker]

As long as you have worked the loads up using magnum primers, I would contine doing so, especially if you are going to be shooting them in a cold enviroment. Just one more step that will ensure consistent ignition.

GS

 

[jmr40]

I've had the best luck with RL-15 and Varget. Both were about equal for me. They gave me both the best accuracy and velocity. I have settled on Varget for no particular reason.

If hot or cold weather is a concern both RL-15 and Varget are formulated to be far less sensitive to temperature changes than most powders. Not saying they are the best, but I use Winchester large rifle primers. Lots of reports indicate they ignite hotter than many magnum primers. This combo has worked very well for me.

 

[CZ57]

Thanks everyone for your input! My shooting partner dropped by this evening and told me he picked up a pound of Varget from our powder source. My partner is just getting into reloading so this will be a great experience. He also checked on RL-15 but our source (a guy who sells at gunshows) didn't have any in stock and it has been backordered for a couple of months. I think he buys from Powder Valley.

So, the gameplan will be to start with 748 and a WLR primer, then try Varget and then try some TAC to see if accuracy is as good with one of the ball powders as it is with Varget. I'm sure we'll try RL-15 somewhere down the line. As I mentioned, compared to a lot of you guys we have very mild winters here in N. Central Texas so a ball powder is a year round proposition here. I will keep 2520 in mind as well. If you have any more suggestions, keep 'em comin'.